2018 BBC Felix Dexter Bursary Program for Comedy Writers

BBC Felix Dexter Bursary Program for Comedy Writers

Deadline: July 30, 2018

Applications are invited for the BBC Felix Dexter Bursary Program 2018 for Comedy Writers. The BBC Comedy and the BBC Writersroom have committed to developing talented BAME comedy writers with the Felix Dexter Bursary. A six-month bursary will be awarded to an aspiring comedy writer to develop his or her skills at the BBC.

The program, offered by BBC Comedy in partnership with the BBC Writersroom, is designed to find a writer with a fresh, unique point of view and the potential to help shape the future of comedy, whether in the BBC or elsewhere in the industry. It aims to make a positive intervention to address an under-representation of BAME professionals in comedy production in broadcasting.

On a practical level, the bursary gives up-and-coming talent the chance to make comedy writing their main focus for six months, while immersed in comedy production. They will hone their skills while gaining experience on a range of BBC comedies across radio, TV and online, on panel shows, shorts, sitcoms or comedy entertainment shows. The programme will offer the writer the support they need to take the next step in their career.

Eligibility

The bursary is open to black, Asian and other ethnic minority writers or writing duos who are 18 or over;

Applicants should have a good knowledge of British comedy and comedy television in general;

Experience of writing to a brief set by others – to be outlined in your Writing CV;

Excellent communication skills with the ability to express all issues and ideas clearly and concisely;

Experience of working to a deadline – to be outlined in your Writing CV;

Duos can submit, but no writing teams;

Entrants must submit a Writing CV document as well as a short biography, to be entered on your BBC Writersroom E-submissions profile;

Entrants must be available to attend an interview in London between September 11-27, 2018

Application

Applicants should answer the following questions:

Write your own obituary from the perspective of someone you don’t get along with (500 words max). The scheme is read blind so use an alias;

Write a sketch incorporating a first date at a funeral (1000 words max);

Please critique two examples of comedy programming from the last 6 months. Please describe one you enjoyed and one you felt could have been improved – please justify your answers; what would you have done differently? Please answer in no more than 500 words.

Answers to the above must be saved as one single PDF file, no larger than 10MB, with each question and answer clearly defined. (Do not include your name on this document as all submissions will be read blind, in the first instance.)